Have You Thanked Your Dental Assistant Today?

One of our favorite things about March is that there is a Dental Assistant Recognition Week.  It’s true! And we are lucky to have an amazing team of Dental Assistants committed to excellent patient care at FDA.  The theme of this year’s Recognition Week was “Today’s Dental Assistants–Polished, Poised, and Professional,” and we couldn’t think of a better way to describe Mary, Melissa, Mirela, and our newest staff member, Pat.  Let’s meet our four fabulous Dental Assistants and learn a little bit more about what a dental assistant does!

When you visit FDA, you may notice lots of people doing different jobs.  You might not realize the difference between some roles. For instance, do you know the difference between a Dental Hygienist and a Dental Assistant?

When you come to the office for a procedure with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos, Assistants are sitting chairside working directly with the dentists.  They are the bridge between the patient and the dentist and are focused on patient comfort and understanding. They need to know every step in each procedure so they can always be one step ahead of the dentist.  Each procedure and each dentist is different, so it is crucial that the Assistant is familiar with all the tools and materials and the order the dentist will need them. Beyond sitting chairside, Dental Assistants also take impressions, perform in-office whitening procedures, conduct lab work, and make temporary crowns.  Also, all of FDA’s Dental Assistants have their radiology certification, so they may have taken your last set of X-rays.

FDA’s Fab Four

Mary has worked in the dental field since 1995, many of those years with us.  For Mary, the dental care is excellent at FDA in part because of the encouragement and support that staff members receive to take continuing education classes. “We’re constantly improving our knowledge,” she explains. “These courses help us to communicate well together, which is very important.  Our motto is, ‘Have fun while doing great work!’ It’s all about working as a team to do the best for our patients and keep them relaxed. Everyone here helps each other.”

Melissa has been in the dental field since 2003 and is a chairside assistant along with 
handling whitening procedures, fabrication of crowns, and 
laboratory duties.  She has a passion for helping people, which is what led her to dentistry. “I love waking up each morning knowing that I am going to help someone today,” Melissa says. “Sometimes, we are able to change a person’s life, and that is powerful.”

Mirela has worked in the dental field since 2003, joining the Falmouth Dental Arts team in May 2017. She has worked in pediatric dentistry for most of this time, which lends her a unique perspective on dentistry. “Anyone can be afraid of going to the dentist – not just children,” she shares. “That’s why we do everything we can here at FDA to make patients feel comfortable and relaxed while they’re in our chairs.”   She also provides language support for the team with her fluency in Albanian and Greek.

Pat was a member of A Perfect Smile before and joined FDA earlier this month.  We are excited to have her on the team!  APS patients will recognize her and the wonderful care she provides. Please help us welcome Pat to the FDA family!

We are so grateful for all the amazing work and excellent patient care these women provide.  We strive to provide the best oral health care to our patients and couldn’t do that without our Dental Assistants.  We are lucky to have them as part of our team. Next time you see them at the office, say hello…and if you are in need of a visit to our office, give us a call at 207.781.5900.  We look forward to seeing you!

 

**Image courtesy of www.adaausa.org

National Dentist Day: An Interview with Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos

National Dentist Day was March 6 and was established as a way to show appreciation and thanks for dentists.  We have two of the best dentists to thank: Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos! As a way to honor these two, we thought we’d ask them some questions about their path to dentistry and what they love about the work they do. Let’s learn more about FDA’s Dynamic Duo!

1. Why did you go in to dentistry?

Dr. Brian Brunacini:  I enjoy the variety and problem-solving in dentistry.  There are always new things to learn and I’ve enjoyed keeping up with the advancements in digital dentistry to improve the accuracy of diagnoses and quality of care.

Dr. Karagiorgos:  After graduating with a degree in civil/structural engineering, I worked in the field but I disliked my job. I was 27 and I knew I didn’t want to do that as a lifelong career.  Around that time, I went through a health scare that made me decide to pursue a career that would be meaningful and satisfying to me. I thought more about what a cousin had once suggested: dentistry. So I went back to school to take all the prerequisites to go to dental school, and meanwhile I worked for the Tufts’ Oral Surgery department as a Dental Assistant, where I assisted in surgical procedures such as extraction, implant placement, and even cosmetic surgery. This experience solidified my desire to pursue dentistry. I really enjoyed the surgical aspect of dentistry and considered specializing but the great thing about general dentistry is that you’re able to do a little bit of everything.

2. What is rewarding about your work?

Dr. Brian Brunacini:  I love getting to know our patients and working together by sharing what I see and can potentially do for them.  I really enjoy empowering patients to be more involved in their healthcare decisions so that they can improve their health.  

Dr. Karagiorgos:   Every day is about finding the best dental solution for each individual patient while keeping each patient’s special circumstances and aesthetic vision in mind, as well as the financial aspects involved to create the best possible treatment plan for every individual.  There’s also an aspect of artistic expression to what we do: it’s making a filling look like a tooth. In a way, dentistry is a very satisfying form of artistic expression on a small scale.

3. What is unique about working at FDA?

Dr. Brian Brunacini:  We practice progressive dentistry that allows us to provide excellent holistic care for the whole patient while using crest-of-the-wave technology.  We also have a laid-back atmosphere at the office which creates a comfortable, inviting place for patients. That coupled with an amazing team–from receptionist to hygienist to assistant to dentist–who all work together to help patients makes this an ideal practice where we build lasting relationships with our patients.

Dr. Karagiorgos:  The patients and staff here make my job feel like it’s not even work. It’s a great feeling to be a part of a team like this. And we meet patients from all walks of life, so it’s great to talk to everyone and get to know them.

4. What is your favorite dental care tip?

Dr. Brian Brunacini:  Mine comes down to diet.  Everyone knows how important it is to eat well for their overall health, but it also is important for healthy teeth and gums.  There is strong correlation between a decrease in sugar/carbohydrate consumption and a decline in tooth decay rates. It’s not just about limiting overall sugar consumption–it’s also important to pay attention to how often during the day you eat or drink sugar.  For example, sipping on an iced coffee with sugar all day is worse than drinking it in one sitting.

Dr. Karagiorgos: Floss, floss, floss!!! Flossing can remove plaque and food debris particles in places where toothbrush bristles cannot easily reach, like under the gum line and especially between your teeth. Plaque buildup can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, which daily flossing can help prevent!

Thank you Dr. Brunacini and Dr. Karagiorgos!  We appreciate the thoughtful care you both bring to the practice everyday.  

Whether you’ve been coming to FDA for years or are a new patient, we hope you learned something about our wonderful dentists.  If you have a question for them or need to schedule a visit, give us a call today at 207.781.5900. We are here to give you the best oral health care possible!